Sleeve holding apparatus

ABSTRACT

A sleeve holding apparatus includes a main portion having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, first and second VELCRO or magnetic coupling portions disposed at the first and second ends of the main portion, respectively, and at least one weather and water-resistant pocket disposed on the main portion between the first and second ends.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/807,111, filed Jul. 12, 2006, in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present general inventive concept generally relates to a sleeve. More specifically, the present general inventive concept relates to a sleeve having a pocket(s) to securely hold various items.

2. Description of the Related Art

Various types of holding devices have been developed. However, these devices are typically complicated in structure, and cannot be comfortably worn and stably secured on a limb of a user.

For example, a conventional “fanny pack” has been used to carry various items. However, the conventional fanny pack is large, cumbersome, and cannot be worn comfortably while performing physical activity. Also, as an example, conventional armbands have been used to carry portable media devices. However, the conventional armband is neither breathable, moisture (perspiration) wicking, weather and water-resistant, capable of being worn on any part of the body aside from the bicep nor does it have an additional pocket for storage of keys, $, credit cards, identification cards, cell phones and other items of similar size and nature.

Accordingly, a holding device with improved structure and comfort, and an improved fastening mechanism for securely and comfortably attaching to a limb or other portion of a human body is needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present general inventive concept provides a sleeve holding apparatus having an improved structure and comfort for securely and comfortably attaching to a limb or other portion of a human body.

The present general inventive concept also provides a sleeve holding apparatus having pockets to store various items and a fastening mechanism that securely and stably supports the sleeve on a limb of a user.

Additional aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept are achieved by providing a sleeve holding apparatus, including a main portion having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, first and second VELCRO coupling portions disposed at the first and second ends of the main portion, respectively, and at least one pocket disposed on the main portion between the first and second ends.

The sleeve holding apparatus may further include a portable media player disposed in the at least one pocket. The at least one pocket may be shaped to secure therein a portable media player so that portable media player is both comfortably fastened and protected from weather and water by way of water-resistant material.

The main portion may include an inner portion made of a fleece material, and an outer portion disposed opposite to the inner portion made of a stretchable polyester blended material or a stretchable natural fiber (e.g. coconut) blended material on which the at least one pocket is disposed and which is water-resistant.

The at least one pocket may include a closed end formed by a stitching on the main portion, an open end formed opposite to the closed end, and a closing flap or strip to open and close the open end of the at least one pocket. The at least one pocket may further include a first VELCRO fastening portion disposed on the at least one pocket adjacent to the open end, and a second VELCRO fastening portion disposed on the closing flap or strip to engage the first VELCRO fastening portion to close the open end of the at least one pocket.

The sleeve holding apparatus may further include at least one pull tab extending from the first end of the main portion of the sleeve to couple and decouple the first and second VELCRO coupling portions from each other.

The first and second VELCRO coupling portions extend along an entire length of the main portion of the sleeve.

The at least one pocket may include a closed end formed by a pocket stitching, an open end formed opposite the closed end, and a hole on the inside of the pocket and disposed in the closed end to provide access to an item disposed in the at least one pocket without compromising the integrity of the otherwise weather and water-resistant pocket.

The at least one pocket may be made of one of a water-resistant stretchable polyester blended material or a stretchable natural fiber (e.g. coconut) blended material which is water-resistant and/or a waterproof plastic material.

The main portion may include an outer stitching portion disposed around a perimeter of the main portion to join an inner portion of a first material with an outer portion of a second material that is different from the first material, and a pocket stitching portion to join the at least one pocket to the outer portion. The at least one pocket may include a first pocket shaped to secure therein a portable media player, and a second pocket shaped to secure therein cell phones, $, credit cards and/or identification cards. Both the at least one pocket and a second pocket are made to not only comfortably and confidently secure the contents disposed therein on the user's body so as to carry said contents and also prevent them from dropping but also to protect said contents from weather and water.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept are also achieved by providing a sleeve, including a main portion elongated along a first direction and having at least one pocket disposed along a second direction different from the first direction on an outer side thereof, a first VELCRO or positively charged magnetic portion disposed at a first end on the outer side of the main portion extending along the second direction, and a second VELCRO or negatively charged magnetic portion disposed at a second end opposite the first end and on an inner side of the main portion extending along the second direction.

The first and second VELCRO or magnetic portions may be coupled to each other such that the second end of the main portion overlaps the first end of the main portion.

The main portion may be between about 10 inches and 14 inches long and about 4.5 inches wide. The first and second VELCRO or magnetic portions may be about 2 inches wide in the first direction and about 4 inches long in the second direction.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept are also achieved by providing a sleeve holding apparatus, including a main portion having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end to overlap with each other around a limb of a user, first and second VELCRO or magnetic coupling portions disposed at the first and second ends of the main portion, respectively, and a plurality of pockets disposed on the main portion between the first and second ends and having a plurality of different items disposed therein.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept are also achieved by providing a sleeve holding apparatus, including a circular arm band made of a stretchable material, and at least one pocket disposed on an outer portion of the arm band which affords not only comfortable and secure attachment to the user's body but also is weather and water-resistant while still affording breath ability and perspiration wicking qualities.

The at least one pocket may extend in a direction that is parallel to a center axis of the circular arm band.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an outer view of a sleeve holding apparatus in an open state according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 2 illustrates an inner view of the sleeve holding apparatus of FIG. 1 in the open state;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view illustrating a bottom portion of the sleeve holding apparatus of FIG. 1 in a closed state, according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view illustrating a top portion of the sleeve holding apparatus of FIG. 1 in the closed state, according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the top portion of the sleeve holding apparatus of FIG. 1 in the closed state and having a portable media player disposed in a pocket, according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present general inventive concept while referring to the figures.

FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, and 3B illustrate a sleeve holding apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a “sleeve” for description purposes) according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept. The sleeve may be worn by a human on a limb (e.g., an arm or leg). The sleeve has an inner portion 8 (FIG. 2) to be placed on the limb and an outer portion 1 (FIGS. 1, 3A, and 3B) disposed on an opposite side from the inner portion 8. The outer portion 1 of the sleeve may be made of a stretchable polyester blended fabric or a blend of polyester, lycra-type elastane and nylon or a natural fiber blended material that is stretchable, and the inner portion 8 of the sleeve may be made of hypoallergenic fleece that absorbs moisture such as perspiration, sweat, etc. Other materials and blends thereof may also be used which provide the desired purposes as provided herein. Additionally, the blend of material of the sleeve is breathable, but is also wind and water resistant. Accordingly, the sleeve provides comfort, stability, free range of motion, chaff resistance, slip resistance, absorption of moisture including perspiration, and stretchable qualities allowing for secure and flexible use on different regions of the user's limbs. Additionally, the sleeve is machine washable and air dryable. The inner and outer portions 8 and 1 of the sleeve collectively form a main portion of the sleeve.

The inner portion 8 and the outer portion 1 of the sleeve can be joined together around their respective perimeters by an outer stitching 12 (12′). In particular, the inner portion 8 of the sleeve illustrated in FIG. 2 includes the outer stitching 12′, and the outer portion 1 of the sleeve includes the outer stitching 12.

Referring to FIG. 1, the outer portion 1 of the sleeve includes a first fastening portion 9 disposed at a first end (B) thereof and a second fastening portion 10 disposed at a second end (A) which is opposite to the first end. The first and second fastening portions 9 and 10 may be VELCRO or magnetic portions. For example, the first fastening portion 9 may be a strip of VELCRO fuzzies while the second fastening portion 10 may be a strip of VELCRO hooks that engage the VELCRO fuzzies when the second end (A) of the sleeve is brought around over top of the first end (B) of the sleeve. Alternatively, the first fastening portion 9 may be VELCRO hooks while the second fastening portion 10 may be VELCRO fuzzies. Alternatively, the first fastening portion 9 may be a negatively charged magnetic strip while the second fastening portion 10 may be positively charged magnetic strip which engage each other when the second end (A) of the sleeve is brought around over top of the first end (B) of the sleeve. It should be understood that reference 10 in FIG. 1 represents an outline of the VELCRO coupling portion 10′ which is actually disposed on the inner portion 8 of the sleeve, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The VELCRO or magnetic coupling portions 9 and 10 may be a hook and loop fastening or positively/negatively charged magnetic system that secures the sleeve to a user.

The VELCRO or magnetic coupling portions 9 and 10 may extend along lengths of the first and second ends (B) and (A) of the sleeve, and may be, for example, about four inches in length and two inches in width. Alternatively, the VELCRO or magnetic coupling portions 9 and 10 may have other shapes and sizes.

Referring to FIG. 1, the outer portion 1 of the sleeve also includes weather and water-resistant pockets 2 and 3, which can be used to carry, store, hold and protect various items, for example, keys, money, an identification card, a credit or bank card, a cellular phone, and/or a portable media player. Other items of similar size and nature may also be conveniently stored in the pockets 2 and 3. These pockets are formed on the outer portion 1 of the sleeve by a pocket stitching 11 (11′ in FIG. 2). Although two pockets 2 and 3 are illustrated in the present embodiment, it should be understood that any number of pockets may be disposed on the outer portion 1 of the sleeve.

The pockets 2 and 3 may be made of a weather and water-resistant stretchable polyester blended fabric and/or a combination of polyester and/or natural fiber blended fabric and vinyl. The pockets 2 and 3 may be flexible and stretchable. Alternatively, one or more of the pockets 2 and 3 may be made of a waterproof material, for example, a plastic. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3B, the pocket 2 may include a hole 4. The hole 4 allows access to an item disposed in the pocket 2 without compromising the integrity of the weather and water resistant qualities heretofore mentioned. For example, when the portable media player is disposed in the pocket 2, a cord may pass through the hole 4 in the pocket 2 to connect to the portable media player. The hole 4 may instead be disposed in the pocket 3. It should be understood that although FIGS. 1 and 3B illustrate that the pocket 2 includes the hole 4, the hole 4 is not necessary in all embodiments of the present general inventive concept.

The pockets 2 and 3 each include a closed end formed by the pocket stitching 11 (11′) and an open end (opposite the closed end) in which the items can be inserted. The pockets 2 and 3 include closing flaps or strips 5 to close the open ends thereof by coupling to fasteners 5′. The fasteners 5′ are disposed on the pockets 2 and 3 adjacent to the open ends thereof.

The closing flaps or strips 5 and the fasteners 5′ may be VELCRO coupling portions. For example, the closing flaps or strips 5 may have VELCRO hooks, and the fasteners 5′ may have VELCRO fuzzies (or vice versa). Accordingly, the coupling of the closing flaps 5 and the fasteners 5′ can prevent foreign objects or snow and rain from entering and effecting the items disposed in the pockets 2 and 3 and the fasteners 5′ can also prevent the items disposed in the pockets 2 and 3 from falling out of the pockets 2 and 3. It should be understood that although FIGS. 1 and 3B illustrate that the pockets 2 and 3 include the closing flaps 5 and the fasteners 5′, these components are not necessary in all embodiments of the present general inventive concept.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3A, in some embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the sleeve may further include pull tabs 6 located on the second end (A) of the main portion of the sleeve to be used to unfasten and/or fasten the VELCRO or magnetic coupling portions 9 and 10.

Referring to FIG. 2, the inner portion 8 of the sleeve includes the second fastening portion 10′, an outline of the first fastening portion 9′, an outline of the pockets 2′ and 3′, the outer stitching 12′, and the pocket stitching 11′.

FIG. 4 illustrates the top portion of the sleeve having a portable media player 13 disposed in the pocket 3. The portable media player 13 may be, for example, an I-pod manufactured by APPLE computers. Other portable media players, cell phones or MP3 players may be used with the sleeve.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the sleeve may be made in a variety of shapes and sizes (e.g., XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL, etc.) according to a size of a user of the sleeve. For example, the XS size may be about 4.5 inches in width and 10 inches in length, the S size may be about 4.5 inches in width and about 12 inches in length, and the M size may be about 4.5 inches in width and about 14 inches in length. These exemplary sizes may be varied, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present general inventive concept.

The sleeve may be fastened using the VELCRO or magnetic coupling portions 9 (9′) and 10 (10′) directly on a desired part of the user's body (e.g., a limb). Alternatively, the sleeve may be fastened on the user's limb and then slid into position at the desired part of the user's limb. In this manner, the inner portion 8 of the sleeve, which may be made of fleece, does not irritate the skin on the limb.

The user may instead first secure the VELCRO or magnetic coupling portions 9 (9′) and 10 (10′) together, and then slide the sleeve over a hand or foot to the desired part of the limb. The VELCRO or magnetic coupling portions 9 (9′) and 10 (10′) are secured together by bringing the first end (B) of the inner portion 8 of the sleeve to overlap on the second end of the outer portion 1 of the sleeve. The sleeve can be worn on any part of the user's leg or arm including, for example, above a wrist, above an ankle, above an elbow, or above a knee. The sleeve may also be worn on other parts of the user's body.

In some embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the sleeve may be a circular arm band having similar dimensions to the sleeve in previous embodiments without the VELCRO or magnetic coupling portions 9 (9′) and 10 (10′) of FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, and 4. In this case, the sleeve may be slipped onto the user's limb to a position on the limb at which the sleeve is secure. The stretchable blended material allows the sleeve to stretch to be secured on the limb when the sleeve is slipped on. For example, the user may slide the sleeve over a wrist, up a forearm, onto a bicep while the sleeve gradually stretches until it securely rests on the user's bicep. The sleeve of the present embodiment also includes pockets 2 and 3.

The sleeve is made of stretchable material which may also be embroidered to include advertising indicia to promote, for example, a company's name or logo, a university's logo, a user's name, etc.

Additionally, the sleeve may be worn by a user during any type of activity including, for example, strenuous physical exercise. Due to the strength of the hook and loop or magnetic fastening system, the sleeve remains on the desired part of the user.

Accordingly, a sleeve holding apparatus according to the embodiments of the present general inventive concept may be comfortably and stably worn on a desired part of a limb to store and protect various items in pockets disposed thereon.

Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A sleeve holding apparatus, comprising: a main portion having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end; first and second VELCRO or magnetic coupling portions disposed at the first and second ends of the main portion, respectively; and at least one pocket disposed on the main portion between the first and second ends.
 2. The sleeve holding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a portable media player disposed in the at least one pocket.
 3. The sleeve holding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pocket is shaped to hold, carry, secure and protect therein a portable media player by way of weather and water-resistant material.
 4. The sleeve holding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main portion comprises: an inner portion made of a fleece material; and an outer portion disposed opposite to the inner portion made of a stretchable polyester or natural fiber blended material and on which the at least one pocket is disposed.
 5. The sleeve holding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pocket comprises: a closed end formed by a stitching on the main portion; an open end formed opposite to the closed end; and a closing flap or strip to open and close the open end of the at least one pocket.
 6. The sleeve holding apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the at least one pocket further comprises: a first VELCRO fastening portion disposed on the at least one pocket adjacent to the open end; and a second VELCRO fastening portion disposed on the closing flap or strip to engage the first VELCRO fastening portion to close the open end of the at least one pocket.
 7. The sleeve holding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one pull tab extending from the first end of the main portion of the sleeve to couple and decouple the first and second VELCRO or magnetic coupling portions from each other.
 8. The sleeve holding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second VELCRO or magnetic coupling portions extend along an entire length of the main portion of the sleeve.
 9. The sleeve holding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pocket comprises: a closed end formed by a pocket stitching; an open end formed opposite to the closed end; and a hole disposed on the interior of the closed end to provide access to an item disposed in the at least one pocket without compromising the integrity of the weather and water-resistant qualities.
 10. The sleeve holding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pocket comprises one of a weather and water-resistant stretchable polyester or natural fiber blended material and a waterproof plastic material.
 11. The sleeve holding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main portion comprises: an outer stitching portion disposed around a perimeter of the main portion to join an inner portion of a first material with an outer portion of a second material that is different from the first material; and a pocket stitching portion to join the at least one pocket to the outer portion.
 12. The sleeve holding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pocket comprises: a first pocket shaped to secure therein a portable media player; and a second pocket shaped to secure therein credit cards, identification cards, money, keys, a cell phone or other items of similar size and nature.
 13. A sleeve, comprising: a main portion elongated along a first direction and having at least one weather and water-resistant pocket disposed along a second direction different from the first direction on an outer side thereof; a first VELCRO or magnetic portion disposed at a first end on the outer side of the main portion extending along the second direction; and a second VELCRO or magnetic portion disposed at a second end opposite to the first end and on an inner side of the main portion extending along the second direction.
 14. The sleeve according to claim 13, wherein the first and second VELCRO or magnetic portions are coupled to each other such that the second end of the main portion overlaps the first end of the main portion.
 15. The sleeve according to claim 13, wherein the main portion is between about 10 inches and 14 inches long and about 4.5 inches wide.
 16. The sleeve according to claim 13, wherein the first and second VELCRO or magnetic portions are about 2 inches wide in the first direction and about 4 inches long in the second direction.
 17. A sleeve holding apparatus, comprising: a main portion having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end to overlap with each other around a limb of a user; first and second VELCRO or magnetic coupling portions disposed at the first and second ends of the main portion, respectively; and a plurality of weather and water-resistant pockets disposed on the main portion between the first and second ends and having a plurality of different items disposed therein.
 18. A sleeve holding apparatus, comprising: a circular arm band made of a stretchable material; and at least one weather and water-resistant pocket disposed on an outer portion of the arm band.
 19. The sleeve holding apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the at least one pocket extends in a direction that is parallel to a center axis of the circular arm band. 